Tag: J.K. Rowling

If you want to feel like a kid again you need to visit Universal Studios Hollywood’s Harry Potter World!

Yes, even authors need a break sometimes. They need to be inspired too. Recently, I took a flash vacation to Universal Studios Hollywood! I haven’t been to a theme park for quite some time, and thought why not? My thoughts ahead of time were along the lines of hour waits in the hot sun, expensive food, and periodic bouts of boredom. Rinse/Repeat. However, in this case after spending a total of 11 hours at this place, I can honestly say, “WOW! (I haven’t spent 11 hours anywhere unless I was incarcerated…. Just a mild joke to see if you were paying attention)

What I’m trying to say is Universal Studios Hollywood is well worth your time and money!!” It’s totally awesome! From shows to rides, you won’t be bored. There’s something for everyone to do, or re-do. It made me feel like a kid again! And I know for a fact, it wasn’t just me judging by the people singing “Shout” on the escalator going in the opposite direction. This mood filtered over to our side of the escalator and everyone there joined in as well. Yes, even me:) (which explains the two year old behind me plugging her ears) The weather was perfect, the wait in lines minimal, the shows were excellent, the rides spectacular, and the food prices… Well, you can’t have everything…

My suggestions for anyone visiting this park would be: sunblock, good walking shoes, a locker rental, good camera, plan the shows you want to see around the rides, and lots and lots of water:)

Inside Olivanders

First stop? Harry Potter Hogsmeade of course. It didn’t disappoint! Adults and children alike were outfitted in their favorite house attire to include robes and ties. Others were literally walking around the snow laden village dressed as wizards or witches. This really added to the ambiance of the place. When I spotted Honeydukes, it took everything in me not to fling open the door and roll around in the thousands of chocolate frogs – but I controlled the urge for confectionary delights and limited myself to a few tasty treats such as the peppermint toads and fever fudge! We also visited Zonko’s Joke Shop, and Olivanders just to mention a few places. Each store was filled with tasty souvenirs or rare memorabilia from the movies. My family ate at the three broomsticks and had frozen butterbeer! Yummy! *I also highly recommend their sticky toffee pudding! “Yikes! I’ll be on the treadmill for a week!

The two rides in Harry Potter World are The Flight of theHippogriff and Harry Potters Forbidden Journey! Both were absolutely amazing! Approaching the Flight of the Hippogriff, riders are treated to a life-size version of Hagrid’s hut accompanied by none other than a hippogriff. In order to get to the Forbidden Journey, riders are taken through the dark winding halls of Hogwarts furnished with moving pictures and other recognizable scenery. Among many things, I was able to see Dumbledore’s office and the Gryffindor common room. The Forbidden Journey ride is 3D and you literally feel like you are flying through Hogwarts following Harry on his broomstick!

Hogsmeade

Inside Hogwarts

I hope you enjoyed a sneak peek into Harry Potter World, Universal Studios California. I’ll be posting more about this trip later:)

About Creed Griffon

The Road To Dendura is an incredible book for tween and teen girls and boys!

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